Journal box



Nm. 27 1923 v l l 47 -J. R. FLEMING 5,377

JOURNAL BOX I Filed May 17. 19.19 2 shuts-sheet I1 a Sheets-SheetA 2 Nov. 27 1923 .1.A R. FLEMING JOURNAL BOX Filed May 1v 1919 witness@ Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

ETE i.-

JAMES R. FLEMING, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

JOURNAL BOX.

Application filed May 17,1919. Serial No. 297,727.

To all whom t may con-cera.' Be it known that l, JAMES R. FLEMING, a citizen oic the United States, and a resident of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements inl a Journal Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To amplify the lubricant of journals operated in conjunction with boxes of the character mentioned; to provide reservoirs for lubricant within the body Vof the journal-bearing torming members; to conserve lubricant; and to provide means for automatically lubricating said journals.

Dra-wings.

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a `fragment ot a bolster plate for use in conjunction with boxes constructed and arranged in accordance With the present invention. y

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section, section being taken as on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a selfcentering chair forming a detail or" the herein disclosed box.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of said chair, the section being taken as on the line 1 -4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of said chair.

Description.

The journal box herein disclosed is particularly designed :tor employment on cars used in coal mines and similar installations. The road beds in such installations are usually constructed rapidly and somewhat crudely, as the roads are expected to be more or Vless temporary. The cars for such use are rarely provided with springs for sup,- porting the load. As a result of the inequality of the tracks and of the absence of springs which Would maintain the Wheels in engagement with the track, provision is made to permit the axle to drop in these boxes, otherwise anyl one of the Wheels might be held by the box Where the rail on V one side of the track is depressed, and thereby, run the risk of the flange of the Wheel becoming disengaged from the side of the rail. Should such a condition arise on a curve, the opportunity for disaster is evident, particularly, if the drop in the track should happen to be on the outer side of the curve. In suchcases, the car would become absorbent Waste to receive the lubricant Withv which the journal is supplied as it is Idropped from the journal Which normally rests on the brass 14.

As best shown by dotted lines in .Figure 2 of the drawings, the journal 15 is disposed in service relation to the upper edge of the flanges 11. The space between the liange 11 and the bottom of the journal 15 When the same is in contact With the brass 14, permits the separation of the axle 15 from the seat 111, or a drop in the Wheel vvith Which the journal is associated, -When by reason of inequalities in the track, the rail at any point is depressed, y

It Will be seen, however, that When the journal drops to this extent, it rests upon Waste Which is packed in the pocket formed by the flanges 11, such lubricantI having been previously emitted from the bearing formed by the brass 14.

In the present invention lubricant is introduced through a passage formed in the wood bolster upon. Which the bolster plate 16 is secured, to communicate with the depression or sump 17. The sump 17 has a central opening 18 for directing lubricant delivered thereto, .through the passage 19 in the top Wall of the. chair20. The clrair 20 is also provided with end-openings through which lubricant may be introduced to the chamber 26. When desired, these end-open ings may be closed. l

As best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the chair 2O is provided With they brass 14 which is rigidly secured thereon, and is held by the lip edges 21 of the said chair, so that the lubricating passage 22 in the brass 14 alines with the lubricatingpassage 23 in the said chair.

*As also shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the casting 13 forms a rectangular recess 24 for holding thevchair 20. The benches 25 formed in the said casting,

support the said chair, when the axle or journal 15 thereof is removed or dropped as in service, and in the manner as above indicated. Figure 2 also shows the curved shapes of the side walls andV top of the said chair in cross section, which provide for the rolling or rocking of the said chairy for selfalining tothe stresses imposed by the load on said chair.

In Figures 3, 4, and 5, the outer shape of the chair 2O` in the longitudinal extension of the walls thereof, is disclosed as is also the end or thrust walls of the said chair.

The curvature of all of the exposed walls of the chair 2O provides for the self-alining of the chair in correspondence with the stresses on thejournal.

The chair 20 is liollowed to form the lubricant box 26. rFhe bottom of the box 26 is formed by the arch 2'?, of the chair 20. This construction provides pockets 28 at the opposite extremities of the arch 27, the said pockets extending lenthwise of the chair. rFhe pockets 28 thus formed, furnish reservoirs for lubricant, which in the service operation of the car, is thrown back and forth from the pocket on one side of the said chair, to the pocket on the other side, across the said'crown. As the lubricant is thus thrown from one pocket to the other, a certain proportionl thereof is delivered into the passages 22 and 23, and there.- through to the journal 15.

The inner end of the passage 22 has a flare 29, the inclined walls of said flare serving to prevent the retention of any possible grit or dirt carried thereby, the tendency whereof, is` to form a plug or stoppage for the passage 22. In other words` the flare 29 serves at all times to clear the delivery n opening of the passage 22.

vlubricant is delivered through the passage 19 to the chamber 26. The Ylubricant which is generally used is heavy oil or grease. As much of the lubricant as can bel crowded into thev chamber 26` is delivered thereinto. When the journal 15 turns under-the brass 14, suflicient heat is generated to flow the lubricant. The surplus lubricant Vis delivered through the passages 22 and 23 to the bearing` surface of the journal 15 and brass 14. The bulk of the lubricant flows to the pockets 28 and is retained therein,

after the surplus is passed from the chamber rlhe excess of lubricant when carried past the brass '14 is deposited on thev waste in the pocket formed by the flangesV 11.

After the excess of lubricant has been delivered from the chamber 26, a continued lubrication of the bearing is affected by the liquid lubricant held in the pockets 28, being delivered to the passages 22 and 23, as the said lubricant is washed into the said passages in correspondence with the operation of the car or the bearing formedby the box connected therewith.

It is obvious'that the reservoirv of lubricant in the pockets 28 will be available for a considerable time, due to the fact that as the reserve diminishes, the supply drawn therefrom diminishes in a substantially corresponding degree.

liVhile the preferred construction is shown in the drawings'as one employing the flanges 11 for forming a pocket for waste has beenr described, it will be understood, that in some bearings the flanges 11 may be dispensed with, and thev under body 12 may be correspondingly raised. In this case, the bearing` 15 would be limited in its separation from the sea-t 14, not by the .edges of the iianges 11, but by the inner' surface of the under body 12. This becomes necessan7 where it is found expedient to reduce the extension of the bearing casting from the bolster of the car.

Olaims.

1. in a bearing as characterized, a journal box having its hollow interior formed to provide a lower relatively narrow portion and an upper portion enlarged in opposite directions to either side ofy the side walls of the lower portion, and a. bea-ring member disposed within the upper enlarged portionof said journal box and comprising a hollow body having an arched. bottom wallextending across the upper open end ofthe lower portion of said journal box and forming lubricant receiving pockets at the opposite sides ofthe ridge portion thereof, said arched bottom wall having an opening formed in the ridge thereof for the passage through the same of the lubricant in its movement from one .pocket to the other, whereby the lubricant passing downwardly of the opening will discharge onto the upper surface of an axle passing through the lower portion of said journal box.

2. In a bearingas characterized, a journal box having its hollow interior formed to provider a lower narrow portion and an upper portion enlarged in oppositeydirectionsto either side of the side walls of the lower portion, a bearing member disposed within the upper enlarged portion of said journal box and'comprising a hollow body having an arched bottom wall extending longitudinally of the upper open end of the lower portion ofv said journal box and forming lubricant receiving pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion thereof,

isaid arched bottom wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge thereof for the passage. through the same of the lubricant in its movement from one pocket to the other, whereby the lubricant passing downwardly of the opening will discharge onto the upper surface of an l axle passing through the lower portion of said journal box, and means for introducing a lubricant to the interior of said bearing body.

3. 1n a bearing as characterized, a journal box having its hollow interior formed tov provide a lower narrow portion and an up'- per portion enlarged in opposite directions to either side of the side walls of the lower portion, and a bearing member disposedv within the upper portion of said journal box and comprising a hollow body having an arched bottom wall extending longitudinally of the upper open end of the lower portion of said journal box and forming lubricant receiving pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion thereof, said arched bottom wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge thereof for the passage therethrough of the lubricant in its movement from one pocket to the other, whereby the lubricant passing downwardly of the opening will discharge i onto the upper surface of an axle passing through the lower portion of said journal box, said journal box having an opening in the upper side thereof for the introduction of a supply of lubricant therethrough and through a filling opening formed in the upper side of said journal box and aligned therewith for the 'purpose.-

Li. In a bearing as characterized, a journal box having its hollow interior formed to provide a lower narrow portion and an upper portion enlarged in opposite directions to either side of the side walls of Vthe lower poi-tion, a. bearing member disposed within the upper enlarged portion of said journal box and comprising a hollow body having anarched bottom wall extending loiigitudinally of the upper open end of the lower portion of said journal box and forming lubricant receiving pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion thereof, said arched bottom wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge thereof for the passage therethrough of the lubricant in its movement from one pocket -to the other, said hollow Abody having a filling opening formed in the top wall thereof, and a bolster' plate for supporting said journal box in position, said bolster plate having :i filling opening formed therein and arranged in registry with the said filling opening of said hollow body for the introduction therethrough of a lubricant to the passage therethrough of the lubricant in its i movement from one pocket to the other thereof, the top wall of said bearingmember having a filling opening therein, said bolster plate having a lubricant receiving opening formed therethrough and arranged in registry with the said filling opening of said bearing member for the introduction of a supply of lubricant therethrough and into the interior of said bearing member.

6. ln a bearing as characterized, a bolster plate, a journal box carried by said bolster plate, a hollow lubricant receiving body' mounted within said journal box, a bottom wall arched inwardly of said body and forming pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion thereof, said arched bottom wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge thereof, and a bearing member carried at the under side of the bottom wall of said hollow body and having an opening therein complemental to the elongated opening thereof, the top wall of said hollow body having a filling opening therein, said bolster plate having a lubricant receiving opening formed therein and arranged in registry with the said filling opening of said hollow body for the introduction therethrough of a lubricant to the interior n arched inwardly of said hollow body andV forming pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion thereof, said arched wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge portion thereof and in registry with a Vsimilarly formed opening in said bearing member carried by the hollow body, the top wall of said hollow body having a lling opening therein, said bolster plate having a lubricant receiving opening formed therein and arranged in registry with the said filling opening of said hollow body for the introduction therethrough of a lubricant to the interior of said hollow body.

8. In a bearing as characterized, a-bolster plate, a journal box' carried by said bolster plate, a hollow lubricant receiving body, and a bearing member carried by said hollow body, said hollow body being mounted within said journal box and having its opposite side walls reversel-y curved for rolling contact,y with the opposed straight side walls thereof whereby to be, together with the bearing member carried by the same, self adjustable when operative, said hollow body having its bottom wall inwardly arched on the longitudinal center thereof to form pockets at the opposite sides of the ridge portion of the wall, said, arched wall having an elongated opening formed longitudinally of the ridge portion thereof and in registry with a similarly formed opening in the bearing member carried thereby, the top wall of said. hollow body having a filling opening formed therein, said bolster plate having a lubricant receiving opening loaned therein and arranged in registry with the said til-ling opening Jfor the introduction therethrough ot a lubricant to the interior of said hollow body.

9. In a bearing as characterized, a ournal box, an axle extending into the lower portion of said journal box,l a lubricant receiving body mounted within the upper portion ot said journal box and having a discharge opening through the bottom wall thereof therethrough and onto the upper surface of sai-d axle of' a supply ot' the lubricant.

10. In a bearing as characterized, a journal box, an axle extending into the lower portion of said journal box, a lubricant receiving body mounted within the upper portion of said journal box and having av discharge opening in the bottoni wall thereof, a bearing element for said axle mounted on the under side of said body and having an opening therein disposedrin registry with the opening oi said body for the discharge therethrough and onto the upper surface ot said axle of a supply of the lubricant, and means Jformed on said body and cooperative with the opposed walls of said journal box whereby the bod-y and the bearing element carried thereby are rendered self-centering.

JAMns R. FLEMING. 

